Spanish, Italian, and French fishermen up in arms over European Commission proposal to cut fishing days

Published 2024년 12월 4일

Tridge summary

Fishermen from Spain, Italy, and France are opposing a European Commission proposal to drastically reduce fishing days and catch limits in the Mediterranean, particularly for red shrimp. They argue that the proposed 79% cut in Spain's trawler fleet fishing days and a 30% reduction in red shrimp catch limits will harm the fishing industry and cause significant job losses. The fishermen, supported by the Spanish government and regional authorities, claim the measures are arbitrary and lack consideration of scientific and socio-economic factors. They call for a comprehensive review of previous measures to ensure a balance between biodiversity conservation and economic interests.

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Original content

Spanish, Italian and French fishermen who fish in the Mediterranean describe the European Commission's (EC) proposal to cut fishing days ahead of the meeting of the Council on Total Allowable Catches (TAC) and quotas to be held in Brussels starting next Monday, December 9, as "a declaration of war." In the case of Spain, the proposal aims to reduce the number of fishing days of the trawler fleet in the Mediterranean by 79%, which would mean reducing the current average of 130 days per year to just 27 days. In addition, they also intend to reduce the catch limits for red shrimp by 30% to 551 tonnes per year. These measures, for the sector, “would mean the disappearance of the 556 trawler boats on the Mediterranean coast and the destruction of 17,000 jobs” according to a statement from eight fishing entities, including the Catalan National Federation of Fishermen's Guilds. As explained by Antoni Marzoa, the head skipper of the Arenys de Mar Guild and president of the new ...

Source: La Vanguardia